Gone With the Wind.

Our tribe is currently going through a “Gone with the Wind” season of life. Of course, in South Dakota it’s important to clarify we’re not talking about the literal wind we’re quasi-famous for. No, the wind I’m referring to is the kind that buffets your mind and heart. Its the kind that shipwrecks your soul when a kid you’re crazy about makes a poor choice.

Its a wind that howls and leaves you plagued with doubt.

Will this kid “make it”?

Am I a bad parent?

Are you there God?

Enter Rhett, Scarlett, Cline and Fay. Siskel and Ebert never gave the later two a thumbs up. You see, they are best known for their authorship of the book, “Parenting Teens with Love and Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood.”

Cline and Fay welcome parents to “Parenting Graduate School” in the opening of their book. They state,”Just a few years ago, we were changing diapers, reinforcing basic manners…But even through the hard lessons, we were still the parents. Our children were still within our control. But then along came a phase change that sent us scrambling back for more education: a graduate course in ‘Teenagers’.” Throughout the book Cline and Fay share wisdom along with stories of fellow parents and their success with love and logic.

So where on earth do Rhett and Scarlett fit in all this? Remember Scarlett’s infamous line, “I’ll think about tomorrow”? It was her go-to response when life got hard. Repeatedly, Rhett comes to her rescue and because of that Scarlett can afford to “think about it tomorrow.” Until…. (click on the link below.)

So there you have it. Gone with the Wind goes parenting. Rhett makes a tuff choice. Parents don’t cave. Scarlett hears the voice of truth and chooses to “think about” it. She experiences a change of heart and hopefully a change in behavior. Kids grow up and unwise thinking is removed and replaced while hardened hearts are moved and restored.

For the sake of those we love may we have Rhett resolve…

“Therefore I have set my face like a stone determined to do his will.” Is. 50:7

“Nothing of what I say is on hold. What I say happens.” Ez. 12:28

And may we pray for the only wind that matters.

“But you’ve seen and heard it becasue God by his spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.” 1 Cor. 2:7

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them, I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ez. 11:9

Comments

With God’s help those howling winds can be life changing. We to have had difficulties in our family this year. I am reassured every day as I do devotions that the howling winds do die down and that space those raw emotion of disappointment and feeling of inadequacy take up in our being are replace, They are replaced with prayer and the peace and guidance our heavenly father so generously blesses us with.
Most recently for me showing the love I have for one of my children in a way she could see and accept was difficult at best. My hurt, disappointment and at time dismay got in the way! Forgiveness came easily, so I thought. But those raw emotions just under the surface were haunting. I so often needed to remind myself that God’s plans transcend all and that it is when we are blessed with trials, yes I did say blessed, that we grow the most in our faith and resolve. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ” Act 1:2. In finally giving that hurt to God I was freed to love as he intended, unconditionally and to be a parent who seeks God’s wisdom often. often and more often!
Being a parent is hard work it is challenging and can be disappointing, but it is also so amazing! Thank you God for all my wonderful children. What a blessing they are!
Cindy, thank you so much for sharing! You shine for Christ!